Slow To Speak

Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger for anger does not accomplish the righteousness of God. Therefore, put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.

Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror. He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he looked like. But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts; such a one shall be blessed in what he does. (James 1:19-27)

James gives us great advice.  Always be quick to hear – to listen to the other person’s views and opinions.  Hear them out.   Be slow to speak meaning do not interrupt.   When disagreeing with that person, be slow to anger for anger accomplishes nothing and is contrary to God meaning anger does not promote love – it destroys it.

Furthermore, James tells us to act – to be a doer.  It’s not enough to simply listen.   Once we know what we should do, do it.  When the word is planted in us, we need to allow it to grow through action.  Otherwise, we lose sight of our purpose that is to be blessed by what we do though charity, compassion, good works, and love.

Deacon David Pierce